The Jesuits are planning a reunion of former students of Campion House, Osterley, and are appealing for recent ordinands to contact them.

The plaques containing the names of Osterley students who went on to complete their studies for the priesthood and be ordained were moved to Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon when the College for Late Vocations (as it was known) closed in 2004. It is planned to update them to include all those who left in the College’s final years, that is, men who would have been ordained in 2004 – 2007. There is also an open invitation to any ex-Osterley student, priest, religious or layman, as well as to past members of staff and friends of Osterley, to join them at the Reunion Mass on 15th April 2008.

The Jesuits acquired Thornbury House in the quiet village of Osterley, Middlesex, in 1912 and renamed it Campion House. When Fr Edmund Lester SJ came to Osterley in 1915 he had the chance to fulfil his ambition of training promising but uneducated men to give them a foundation that would enable them to study for the priesthood. For men returning from World War I a couple of years later, this was just the chance they needed.

In its time, Campion House produced more than 1,500 priests, including many who distinguished themselves as Provincials, Bishops, Seminary Rectors etc, who otherwise would never have started at a seminary. In addition many thousands went on to become educated laymen, the backbone of the Church in Britain. As Cardinal Hume once wrote, ìI really do believe, and have often said, that Campion†House, Osterley is one of the truly great institutions of the Church in this countryî.

The principal celebrant at the Reunion Mass will be Fr Paul J Smith, one of Osterley’s last students, who was ordained in 2007 for the Diocese of Portsmouth. Fr Chris Dyckhoff, also a former student and Superior at Campion House, will preach. After the Mass, the British Provincial, Fr Michael Holman SJ, will bless the plaques. Mass will be followed by lunch in the parish hall.

The Mass will take place at 12 midday at Sacred Heart Church, Edge Hill, Wimbledon SW19 on Tuesday 15th April 2008. For more details or to notify the Jesuits of the ordination of a Campion House student not listed on the brass plaques, contact Fr Denis Blackledge at 9 Harvey Road, Bournemouth BH5 2AD, or email him at wdb@jesuits.net